We can't just swing into action, NEMA boss tells Lukwago over Nakivubo Channel

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National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) executive director Dr Barirega Akankwasa has told Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago that he can't just swing into action to demolish the iron sheets businessman Ham Kiggundu used recently to cordon off parts of Nakivubo Drainage Channel.

This was during a meeting Akankwasa finally held with Lukwago on Friday (August 22) at the former's office in Kampala.

Lukwago had earlier in the day been blocked by the NEMA security officers from meeting Akankwasa over Kiggundu's construction works on the channel, which have already been okayed by the President. 

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. (File photo)

"We can't just swing into action to demolish the iron sheets before the team has gone to the ground and assessed the situation," the NEMA boss told Lukwago in Luganda on camera.

Akankwasa said after assessing the situation, NEMA will work out a way forward together with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which is the leading environmental agency in the area. 

The meeting came a few hours after that of KCCA technical wing at City Hall, which ordered Kiggundu to halt the construction works.

Kiggundu owns Kiham Enterprises Ltd, the company undertaking activities along the channel.

"We instructed him to halt all activities that are ongoing without the requisite statutory guidance and permission," KCCA said in a brief statement on X, formerly Twitter, after the meeting with the property tycoon.

The statement added: "Under the guidance and supervision of KCCA, the developer is to remove all debris in the channel as a result of his actions, ensure proper flow of storm water and the hoarded section is maintained to avoid any danger to human life and flooding in the area."

Kiggundu started cordoning off parts of the channel on August 16, 2025, under tight security, sparking off protests from some vendors, politicians and environmentalists.

The channel is among the major drainages in the city.

The move to cordon off the channel prompted Lukwago to hold a press conference, during which he said he had petitioned the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to halt the construction works.

“The Constitution that establishes the office of IG and the Act give it overarching powers to make some quick interventions. So, we have asked the IG to evoke those particular provisions and issue an order for the removal of those mabati (iron sheets),” he told the media in Kampala on August 18.

The Lord Mayor, who was flanked by some members of his political wing, said they had already sent their letter to the IG.

He also said they had written to the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, to help them bring the matter to the attention of Parliament and call for immediate action against Ham and his team.

“This is a matter of national importance because we are talking about the capital city and public property for which we have authority as custodians. There is no free land in Kampala,” Lukwago emphasised.

Tycoon Hamis Kiggundu outlining his development plans after president Yoweri Museveni okayed his proposals for the channel. (File/New Vision/Isaac Nuwagaba)

Kiggundu told New Vision Online in an earlier interview that he intends to transform the area from a criminal hub to a thriving business centre.

“Nakivubo (Channel) had turned into a criminal hideout and a dumping site for all sorts of garbage. On top of that, as advised by Confederation of African Football officials, Nakivubo Stadium, in its current state, cannot host international events with an open drainage channel around it,” he said.